Washington, D.C. - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is pleased to announce that the United States Government has nominated J. Brian Atwood for the position of Development Assistance Committee (DAC) chair. The DAC is a permanent forum of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that coordinates international development policy.

UN General Assembly Event Stresses Need for Global Collaboration in Developing Science and Technology Solutions to Pressing Problems of the World's Poorest

A solar-powered autoclave for sterilizing surgical instruments in the field, a portable irrigation system that instantly converts saltwater to fresh water, and a bicycle converted to a corn sheller or cell-phone charger were among the innovative and inexpensive technologies introduced by 18 teams of inventors at a science fair and development forum yesterday.

Ten years ago, the global community came together in an unprecedented display of unity to adopt the Millennium Development Goals – a set of eight goals to guide global efforts to alleviate extreme poverty by 2015 and meet the needs of the world’s most vulnerable populations. The 8th Goal – Develop a Global Partnership for Development – challenged donor countries to partner and provide more sustainable assistance to the developing world.

USAID, Babson College, and the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) are embarking on a partnership to strengthen entrepreneurship in different countries around the world. This innovative new project will measure entrepreneurship rates and characteristics, as well as other factors influencing small and medium business growth in Egypt, Turkey, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Using this data, policymakers in these nations will be able to better recognize the type of environment necessary to promote the creation and growth of small businesses.

As members of the international bilateral donor community, we recognize the tremendous impact that private sector actors can have on development and we commit to working together to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These objectives have been previously outlined in the Millennium Development Goal– Develop a Global Partnership for Development. In the ten years since the MDGs were established, the international community has made great progress in developing partnerships with business and we come together today to renew and give greater meaning to our commitment.

Administrator Shah Hails the President's Vision, Says USAID is Poised and Ready to Reclaim Its Place as the World's Premiere Development Agency

Today President Obama issued the first-ever development policy by a U.S. President. In partnership with the host countries where we work, USAID is pleased to play a leading role in the implementation of President Obama's vision for global development.

(New York, September 22, 2010) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.K. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Australia Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, and Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced a five-year public/private global alliance to contribute to the goal of reducing the unmet need for family planning by 100 million women, expand skilled birth attendance and facility-based deliveries, and increase the numbers of women and newborns receiving quality post-natal care by 2015. The Alliance includes the U.S.

This week, leaders from across the world emphasised the importance of working in partnership to tackle the crisis of malnutrition and that our success in achieving the Millennium Development Goals depended on it. As development partners, Canada, the United States, Ireland, France, the World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the United Kingdom took up this challenge and we hope that other partners will join. We have:

Washington, D.C. - A forum focused on the use of innovative science and technology to solve development issues will be held on September 22, 2010, during the United Nations' General Assembly meetings in New York City. The Science, Technology and Innovation Forum is co-hosted by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the New York Academy of Sciences.

USAID and GAIN to Develop and Implement Programs for Effective Nutrition Intervention for Mothers and Children in the Critical 1,000 Day Window

NEW YORK, September 20, 2010 – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) announced today $1 million to expand efforts to reduce the growing burden of malnutrition. The announcement will be made today at a historic gathering of the First Ladies of Africa, who convened to declare nutrition as a critical priority for eliminating poverty, improving health and advancing food security in their nations.

UNITED NATIONS – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah today announced additional funds to the United Nations World Food Program to help feed over 6 million people.

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is pleased to note the confirmation of Mark Feierstein as Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean and Nisha Desai Biswal as Assistant Administrator for Asia.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - The U. S. Agency for International Development, through the Major League Baseball Dominican Development Alliance (MLB-DDA), teamed up with the Major League Baseball Players Trust on September 9 to help expand medical services in underserved communities in the Dominican Republic.

Forty four years ago, the United Nations declared September 8th to be International Literacy Day and while there have been substantial improvements since then, we still have a lot of work to do. Basic literacy is vital to an individual's ability to thrive in the modern world. We know that improved literacy leads to greater economic productivity and healthier families.

USAID Provides Funding to Higher Education Partnerships to Jointly Address National and Regional Development Challenges; Build In-Country Educational Capacity; Maximize Resources and On-the-Ground Knowledge Between African and U.S. Institutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - USAID and Higher Education for Development announced that 11 innovative new partnerships between 22 universities in Africa and the United States have each been awarded up to $1.1 million for activities to address issues including food security and agriculture, solar energy, health care, education, and water in Africa. These partnerships will maximize the resources of U.S.

WASHINGTON, DC - Wayne R. Nilsestuen has been sworn in as the Director for U.S. Agency for International Development's Mission in Bolivia. He brings over 30 years of development experience, having worked in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In addition to his service to USAID, Mr. Nilsestuen was a Peace Corps volunteer for two years in Sierra Leone, West Africa where he started a vocational agricultural program at a secondary school for boys.

WASHINGTON D.C. - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided 13 mobile water treatment units to support the Government of Pakistan's flood relief effort. These water treatment units are stationed on some of the most flood-affected districts and have produced over 7.5 million liters of clean water.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) held a swearing in ceremony today for Dr. Jim Barnhart as the new Mission Director for Lebanon. Counselor Hilda Arellano presided at the ceremony and administered the oath to Dr. Barnhart.

As Mission Director for Lebanon, Dr. Barnhart will oversee USAID's programs to help the Lebanese strengthen their democratic institutions, promote economic growth, improve education and health services, and support water and environment programs. The USAID/Lebanon budget totals $109 million annually.

Ahman Samim Sediqi of Kabul, Afghanistan, was tried and sentenced in a local Afghan court on forgery and embezzlement charges stemming from his work on a development project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced USAID Office of Inspector General spokeswoman Dona M. Dinkler.